How to Get Life Insurance With High Cholesterol [2024]

Unfortunately, insurance companies are hesitant to offer services to individuals with high cholesterol since the condition is associated with heart disease. Despite heart conditions posing a high risk to health, it’s important to know that obtaining any type of term life insurance with high cholesterol is completely possible.

In fact, you may be able to improve your chances of insurance approval by understanding how high cholesterol can affect your health and why that impacts your life insurance policy.

What impact does high cholesterol have on my life insurance policy?

When you apply for life insurance, most auto insurance companies require you to take a medical exam. An official medical exam allows insurance companies to gauge how much of a risk a person is before agreeing to provide coverage. After all, more health complications often stipulate a higher risk. However, there are no medical exam life insurance options if you do not wish to be examined for an insurance policy.

During your medical exam, you provide information about your lifestyle, family medical history, and substance use. Whoever administers your medical exam takes your blood pressure, height, and weight. Your blood is also drawn and tested for cholesterol and lipid levels.

If high cholesterol is detected, the insurance company is notified. When this happens, you may inform them of any cholesterol-lowering medications you take and how you strive to maintain a healthy lifestyle. By providing evidence that you live healthily, you could get lower rates if your insurance company perceives you as less of a risk. (For more information, read our “How To Find a Lower Term Life Insurance Premium“).

What do life insurance companies look for with consumers who have high cholesterol? 

Your prospective life insurance company will look for evidence that shows you are trying to lower your high cholesterol and wish to lower it. It is entirely possible to manage your cholesterol through exercise, a clean diet, and other health-conscious choices. Usually, life insurance companies will consider the following before accepting an applicant:

• Medical history of regular check-ins with a primary doctor 
• Whether you consume tobacco products or other substances regularly
• How long your cholesterol has been high 
• Medical records discerning height, weight, blood pressure, and lab test results 
• Any prescription medications you take daily

How can I prepare for term life insurance with high cholesterol?

While your approval for coverage depends on the life insurance company, fortunately, there are steps you can take to prepare a strong application. Adequately preparing your application will potentially increase your chances of life insurance approval.

For starters, you must visit your primary care doctor on a regular schedule, especially if your doctor recommends regular check-ins. If your doctor makes any medical or treatment suggestions, ensure that you follow them carefully and inform your doctor of any complications.

You may also self-reflect and note how high cholesterol makes you feel and use a cholesterol checking app to identify your cholesterol levels. You should also note which medications affect your cholesterol levels and make sure you treat any other underlying health conditions, such as high blood pressure.

Perhaps most importantly, make sure your medical records are updated in a timely manner. Life insurance companies will almost certainly rate your application poorly if they cannot identify doctor visits, medication adherence, or cholesterol control anywhere in your application.

Read more: How To Get Life Insurance With High Blood Pressure

How does life insurance work for individuals with high cholesterol?

There are several common life insurance policy trends for individuals with high cholesterol. First, life insurance rates tend to be higher for people who do not keep their medical records up to date or regularly follow up with their primary care doctor. However, life insurance rates are lower for those who exhibit health-conscious decisions through a controlled diet, exercise, and consistent medication routine prescribed for high cholesterol.

Additionally, individuals with an HDL ratio below 4.0 and cholesterol levels between 150 and 250 receive the most desirable insurance policy coverage. Anything over 250 is considered high and will require you to compare your HDL and LDL levels.

Lastly, committing to any sort of term life insurance policy with rates you can afford is the best decision you can make once you consider all your life insurance options. After you get approved for a budget-friendly life insurance policy, you may prioritize improving your rating class with your company by prioritizing a healthy lifestyle, lowering your cholesterol, and showing better lab test results.

What is cholesterol, and why do high cholesterol levels and heart disease indicate high risk? 

Cholesterol is not inherently unhealthy. In fact, our bodies create this waxy substance to keep our bodies healthy. Other ways our bodies get cholesterol comes from the food we digest. When opting to have your cholesterol levels tested, your health care provider will measure your high-density lipoprotein and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels.

HDL cholesterol prevents LDL cholesterol from clogging up your artery walls, which can obstruct blood flow and increase your risk of a heart attack or stroke. Maintaining desirable levels of HDL cholesterol helps prevent you from having a stroke or a heart attack.

Of course, life insurance companies prefer to provide coverage for individuals who have less of a chance of death. High cholesterol, technically known as hypercholesterolemia according to the National Library of Medicine, may lead to heart attacks and strokes which have serious medical consequences and may result in untimely death.

Things To Consider With High Cholesterol and Life Insurance 

It is entirely possible to get a term life insurance policy with high cholesterol that is affordable. While your insurance rates may be higher than the average person’s, there are ways to present yourself desirably to life insurance companies and possibly pay lower rates.